PEARL CITY - Staying the course has its value. In Aquin's case, it helped the Bulldogs earn a win.

Pearl City provided a scare for Aquin by cutting its deficit to just three points at halftime, but the Bulldogs had a strong third quarter playing basically the same way, winning 46-29 Saturday.

"We did things better," Aquin coach Jeff Curry said. "We had opportunities in the first half and we didn't take advantage of it.

"In the third quarter, our defense stepped up and got more breakaways and made easy bunnies and outside shots."

Those same bunnies didn't fall particularly in the second quarter.

Aquin jumped out to a 13-4 lead after the first, but Pearl City showed some fight in the second.

The Wolves went on an 8-0 run and came to within a point of tying the game, 13-12. Aquin got some separation, but only led 21-18 at the half.

"We started out a little slow," said Aquin guard Haley Chang, who finished with a game-high 19 points. "It's winter break. We're probably all staying up a little too late.

"But in the second half, our ball movement was a little better and we had a little bit more energy."

Translation: shots that didn't fall in the first half did in the second, particularly from beyond the 3-point line.

"Yeah," Chang said. "That probably helped too."

Katie Stykel (five points) hit a 3 that extended Aquin's lead to 25-18. Chang made a 3 of her own and scored seven points during the Bulldogs' 15-2 run in the third.

"Katie and Haley have a lot of pressure this year and they know that they do," Curry said. "When I get 3s for them, that opens up the floor for us and Cassie (Arndt) is coming along well for us in the post."